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Irish off to good start at Spruce Meadows

Irish riders were at the business end of affairs on Wednesday at the five-star Spruce Meadows Masters meeting in Canada.

Conor Swail (pictured) took second place on GK Coco Chanel in the 1.50m Telus Cup, only outdone by France’s Cedric Angot on Talent des Moitiers who was just over a second faster in the jump-off. Swail had been first to go of the eleven qualifiers and his lead lasted until Angot bettered his time with the second-last round of the event.

Capt. Brian Cournane earned fifth place for his double-clear on Dino.

Later in the day in the 1.60m Akita Drilling Cup Dermott Lennon finished fifth on Gelvins Touch after a six-way jump-off which saw Canada’s Eric Lamaze score a home win on Chacco Kid, his mount for the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina.

Lamaze, who is the all-time highest-grossing rider at the venue, just got the better of Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on Alamo.

Daniel Coyle and Cita missed the jump-off with just a time fault and ended up in ninth place.